Media Center

Our mission is to support the School of Education's faculty in the development of independent, confident, competent users of technology who are prepared to provide leadership in a variety of institutional roles and settings.

Philosophy

The Media Center bases its work on four fundamental beliefs:

Technology is more than hardware. At its core, "technology" is the systematic application of what we know to what we do. "Real world" problems related to health and wellness, human growth and development, educational administration, and teaching and learning demand solutions based upon the acquisition and application of knowledge. Computer, communication, video, and other technologies are not in and of themselves solutions. Technological hardware serves thoughtful human beings in pursuit of solutions.

Technology liberates only when individuals control technology. Individuals who exert personal control and adapt technological devices to individual uses are better prepared for the next century than individuals who are dependent upon "technologists" or other forms of support. Therefore, faculty and students of the School of Education must acquire knowledge, skills, and experience sufficient to permit intelligent independent applications of technology. Professors and graduates must be prepared to exercise sound judgment regarding appropriate uses and limitations of technology. The School of Education must create an environment where individual control of technology is expected, encouraged, and developed.

In-depth understanding of basic concepts and mastery of primary skills is more critical than obtaining skills related to the operation of specific technological hardware or software. The pace of rapid technological development thwarts the efforts of virtually all organizations to stay current. Operational skills limited to a single technological platform or innovation prove debilitating. Individuals at all levels of the School of Education who have primary skills and who understand fundamental technological principles are less threatened by changes in equipment and procedures.

Rapid technological development permeates the environment. Tolerating ambiguity, taking risks, and continued learning characterize the next century. Maintaining a positive temperament in the midst of technological transitions distinguishes individuals who are masters of the technology from those who are mastered by the technology. This attribute may best be reflected in the dual nature of great admiration for and healthy skepticism of technology.

Goals

The Media Center activates this philosophy through five primary goals:

Develop and offer curricula which provide School of Education constituents with hands-on experiences with technological innovations.

Create and maintain instructional facilities that encourage student and faculty use of technological innovations.

Identify and obtain "state-of-the-art" equipment required to support the current, developing, and experimental programs and on-going operations of the School of Education.

Provide exemplary services that support constituent use of technology for instructional, professional, and personal applications.

Acquire, develop, and enhance, through professional development and collaboration with other individuals and entities, the technological expertise provided by the Media Center.